Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Friday that resolving the Palestinian conflict is essential for meaningful progress on the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) — a U.S.-backed initiative linking India to Europe through the Middle East.
Speaking to reporters during his visit to New Delhi, Abdelatty emphasized that regional connectivity and stability cannot be separated from justice for the Palestinian people.
“Connectivity is vital, but it must be part of a comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian cause,” he said.
Abdelatty confirmed that he had discussed the IMEC project with his Indian counterpart and expressed Egypt’s openness to joining the corridor, which aims to connect India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel to Europe through a combination of sea and rail routes.
The IMEC was unveiled in September 2023 on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit as Washington’s answer to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. But a month later, the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel plunged the region into renewed conflict, stalling diplomatic and economic cooperation.
Analysts say Egypt’s position underscores a key regional reality: no sustainable economic integration in the Middle East can succeed without addressing the Palestinian question.
By tying its participation in IMEC to progress on the peace process, Cairo is signaling that economic corridors built on unresolved conflicts are destined for instability.
